Video of NYC Council member Chi Ossé's arrest in Brooklyn raises eyebrows

New York City Councilman Chi Ossé was arrested in Brooklyn on Wednesday morning.

He said police unnecessarily roughed him up and that he plans to file misconduct charges, but the NYPD said the officers acted within police guidelines.

What the video shows

Ossé's office said he was arrested "while defending his constituent, Carmella Charrington, from eviction after six decades in her home."

Ossé's team posted a clip of the incident on social media. The footage shows the lawmaker in a confrontation with two NYPD officers. Ossé is seen being brought to the ground by the officers while another person, apparently also being placed under arrest on the ground next to Ossé, can be seen hitting the councilmember's head with his leg as he rolls over.

An officer then holds that other person's leg down while Ossé is handcuffed, picked up, and walked off.

The surrounding crowd can be heard chanting "Who do you serve" and shouting "What are you doing" as Ossé is taken into custody.

"It was very dehumanizing, you know, and especially to have a public servant to come out there and support his constituent, you know, to see how he was treated was disgusting. It was heartbreaking," witness Omar Hardy said.

A total of four people, including Ossé, were arrested.

What the NYPD said happened

The NYPD said officers responded to a call at around 7:45 a.m. regarding a demonstration at Jefferson and Nostrand avenues, where the office of the NYC Sheriff and NYC Marshals were involved in an operation to carry out an eviction. The Marshals called the NYPD for help as protesters were "blocking the entrance to the building."  

Responding officers arrived a few minutes later, and the marshals showed them the eviction court order. More officers were called to the scene because of the crowd. The officers then ordered the crowd to disperse, saying they were blocking a law enforcement action and court order. 

At around 9:30 a.m., police started making arrests. Four people were arrested in total, including Ossé. The NYPD said Ossé physically resisted arrest, "appearing to flail his arms and hands" to prevent his arrest. The NYPD said the takedown was within guidelines. 

Ossé was given a desk appearance ticket and will be charged with obstruction of governmental administration and two counts of disorderly conduct, the NYPD said.

He was held at the 79th Precinct station house, where dozens of his supporters showed up to protest the manner of his arrest and demand his release.

"We feel that it's unjust. They abused, they brutalized him. They took him and slammed him on his head, and dehumanized him. All because he was standing out with his constituents and demanding that they not breach the property while we were waiting to hear from the court," said Evangeline Byars, an organizer for The People's Coalition to Stop Deed Theft.

"My head hit the pavement pretty hard"

During a news conference following his release on Wednesday afternoon, Ossé said he was "manhandled" by three officers.

"It takes a lot to lift me off the ground, but they were able to do so," he said. "They slammed me against the concrete. I believe there was a knee on my back at some point."

He added, "My head hit the pavement pretty hard."

Ossé said he also hit his head while in the back of the police car on the way to the station because he didn't have a seatbelt on and "the driver was driving very aggressively."

He was later taken to a hospital by ambulance, CBS News New York's Dave Carlin reported.

"I will absolutely be filing a misconduct report against the officers who slammed me on the ground," Ossé said.

Mayor Mamdani, AG James, City Council Speaker react

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani spoke out about the arrest Wednesday morning, calling the manner of his arrest, with Ossé being brought face down to the ground, "incredibly concerning to hear."

The mayor added, "And that's exactly something that we're going to follow up on, not just on the nature of this arrest, but also what was the underlying issue that was being protested."

New York Attorney General Letitia James also reacted, saying she was "deeply disturbed" by the video of his arrest. 

"We have been in contact with the resident of this home for over a year to offer guidance and advice on her legal battle," James added. 

City Council Speaker Julie Menin said she's seen videos of the incident and called them "concerning," adding they show Ossé "being aggressively pushed to the ground and arrested during a protest."

Menin said Ossé was peacefully protesting and what happened was not acceptable. She said she talked to the police commissioner about the arrest.

"When I saw the video, it's obviously of deep, deep concern," she said. "He was thrown to the ground and, as you heard from him directly, he sustained some injuries. That is not acceptable."

Fellow Councilman Lincoln Restler called the incident "outrageous conduct by the [NYPD]. No one fighting to prevent deed theft -- let alone a council member -- should be treated like this." 

Protest of an eviction related to deed theft, Osse's office says

Ossé's office said he was arrested while trying to prevent an eviction by the New York City sheriff and marshal due to deed theft.

"This is the result of deed theft and the ongoing displacement of Black homeowners in Bed-Stuy," Ossé's office posted on social media.

Ossé said he learned on Wednesday morning that Charrington was going to be evicted. He said he went to her home to do his "job as a representative and just stand and observe and make sure that there was no violence."

Mamdani said deed theft is "especially prevalent" in Ossé's district.

"The councilmember is rightly passionate about tackling the scourge of deed theft, and he has been someone who has been leading," Mamdani said.

In a statement issued through a spokesman, the building owner, 227 Group LLC, said:

"The allegation of deed theft is unequivocally false and anyone advancing this narrative is completely misinformed. This property was purchased in January 2024 by 227 Group LLC in an arm's length, all-cash transaction with title insurance, which means the property was purchased from two unrelated parties at a price they negotiated. Mr. Charrington owned the property with a partner, and the conveyance of his share was legally authorized by the Fulton County Probate Court in Georgia since he is the subject of a court-appointed conservatorship. The eviction of the current occupant, who has been living at the property illegally for over two years, has been deemed a lawful eviction by Kings County Housing Court and Supreme Court. The Housing Court denied the occupant's claim to stay eviction numerous times, and two Supreme Court Justices in three separate hearings ruled in favor of 227 Group LLC's assertion of being the rightful owner of the property. The transaction was a lengthy process that involved extensive negotiations with attorneys of all parties, including Mr. Charrington's conservatorship attorney, and approval by the Probate Court, which also denied the current occupant's claim challenging its authorization of the sale."